Good news for sport fans as government amends restrictions
The separate gazette for the Department of Cooperative Governance announced that spectators may return, with restrictions.
POLOKWANE – Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has approved the return of spectators to professional and non-professional sporting events.
In the latest separate gazette for the Department of Cooperative Governance, spectators are allowed at matches hosted by recognised sporting bodies, subject to strict adherence to times in Regulation 66(3) and:
“Directions for sports events issued by the cabinet member responsible for sport after consultation with the cabinet member responsible for health. Spectators at the venue of sports events are permitted but limited to 750 persons or less for indoor venues and 2 000 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metre from each other, then not more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures,” the gazette reads.
The gazette adds that an owner or manager of a sporting facility will need to ensure that compliance is met and that they will be liable to a fine and/or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, if they fail to comply.
The South African Football Association in a post on their website thanked government for amending the restrictions. “Safa would like to thank the minister of sport, arts and culture as well as the minister of health for their support of the ground-breaking initiative of the return of fans to the stadium. The two ministries need to be commended for their efforts as Tuesday (October 12) will mark the first time fans will return to the stadium after two years away from their favourite pastime due to the Coronavirus pandemic. A limited number of 2 000 spectators will be allowed to attend the Fifa Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier between Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia at the FNB Stadium. The match kicks off at 18:00,” their post reads.
Blue Bulls president Willem Strauss also welcomed the announcement. “The announcement is great news for sport, and rugby in particular in our case. We cannot wait to welcome back supporters to Loftus Versfeld,” he told Review.
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